New Delhi/Paris, Saying that India has always been a voice for peace and non violence from time immemorial, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu told...

New Delhi/Paris, Saying that India has always been a voice for peace and non violence from time immemorial, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu told Indian diaspora in Paris to 'connect actively with your roots' and participate in country 's development process. 'Bold reforms agenda of the government is transforming the academic landscape of our country,' Mr Naidu said, adding that the story of India was an unfolding and a promising one. Addressing the Indian Diaspora at UNSECO in Paris, France, on Friday, Mr Naidu invited the members of Indian diaspora to take active participation in the creation of New India and asked them to make use of the time and suitable opportunities for investment and innovation in India. This is at a time when the rest of the world, including parts of this region, is experiencing a slowdown, he said. 'The introduction of Goods and Service Tax was a major step to have seamless and efficient national market. It would make it easier for businesses to establish and grow in India,' he said.

It is also an important time to connect actively with your roots, he added. The Vice-President also talked about the joint efforts of India and France to promote the use of clean energy by way of International Solar Alliance. 'India-France development partnership brought mutual rewards to both of our economies, especially in the field of smart urbanisation and transportation,' he said. Mr Naidu said, 'Peace is the only pre-requisite for progress. In an inter-dependent world, progress can be achieved only through dialogue and understanding.' Ambassador of India Veniay Mohan Kwatra and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Lauding the contributions of the diaspora in the fields of science and technology, industry, agriculture, art, culture, governance and politics, the Vice-President said their strong contributions and successes were as much a matter of pride for France, the country of their settlement, as they were for India, the country of their origin. Saying that India was proud of the achievements of Indian diaspora, Mr Naidu said that interacting with Indian diaspora was like conversing within a growing but close-knit family.

People of Indian origin and Indians abroad have excelled in many areas of French public life, with many as members in the French Parliament as well as in the European Parliament, he added. Reminding the gathering about long and mutually enriching association with the French, the Vice-President said Rabindranath Tagore's intellectual influence was known to have touched several French thinkers. Indian luminaries like Madame Bhikaji Cama and JRD Tata, who were significant figures in India's pre-independence history, too had strong links with France, he added. Earlier, the Vice-President interacted with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay and apprised her about India's efforts to achieve the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, especially in all the fields, including education. They also discussed matters such as usage of information and communication technologies to improve access to education, enhancing the quality of teaching-learning process and teacher development programmes, strengthening educational planning and management, and improving monitoring systems. The Vice-President is in Paris, France to attend the centenary year of end of First World War. He will also be participating at a global event at Arc d' Trionphe in which he will pay homage to the martyrs of World War I. He will also inaugurate the Indian Armed Forces Memorial at Villers Guislain as a tribute to several thousands of Indian soldiers whose gallantry and dedication have earned worldwide recognition. Mr Naidu's visit France assumes significance as India and France are celebrating two decades of strategic partnership this year, according to a statement issued in New Delhi on Saturday.